Bois Pointu

This estate is a dream come true for Yorkshire-born wine merchant Charles Blagden. Charles did a stint in Bordeaux and even here The Wine Society before deciding to make his life in France, at first in Beaujolais and then in Provence.

Dreaming about owning a vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and actually doing it are two quite separate things, as Châteauneuf is notoriously closed to anyone from outside. Charles bought two small plots of vines close to Vieux Télègraphe and went into partnership with Guillaume Gonnet from Domaine Font de Michelle, who look after the vines, supervise the harvesting and winemaking.

The vineyards are full of interest and include some old-vine counoise, one of the less well-known grapes but one admired for fragrance and finesse.